Part 47
I glanced over at the books on the bedside table, releasing a small sigh while noticing a bouquet. A courting gift. That’s what my sister called while giggling and placing it on the nightstand.
The twins had someone deliver it to my doorstep with an equally over the top card. I didn’t get it. Why were they doing this? This kind of generosity felt wrong, especially when I knew the nature of our relationship. My lips twisted when I saw the fond look on my sister's face as if she was genuinely happy and in awe of me.
Shaking my head, I marched towards the rack to pick up the coat. Time to face the music at work. I thought under my breath while hastily buttoning the coat.
***
It might be the obvious scent oozing past me as everyone turned to gawk at me. I tried quite a few times to wash it off in the shower, but it did not make any change. Then again, I should have known my efforts were futile, considering the Alpha scents lasted for days.
Helen’s face turned sour, lips pressing together when I motioned her to bring me a coffee.
Renee meekly smiled in my direction, while the other Alphas appeared guarded. They must be picking at the change in my scent.
“You stink!” That’s the first thing Isabella said as she entered my office, a grin curving around her
lips. “In a good way.”
“Thanks, that’s what I would like to hear first thing in the morning.” I snorted, rolling my eyes while eyeing the new bunches of the manuscript. “What are these?”
“I was surprised too! We have received a total of two dozen manuscripts in these three days. I guess the idea of our fair connected with the people.”
“Two dozen?” I sputtered. That’s the collective of what we got in the past five years. “Wow…Did you like any?”
“A few. I picked them out for you to finalise before sending them the decision.”
More work. Nice. I thought while grinning at the stack of folders because this way, I could stop thinking of the Alphas.
“Thank you.”
“Enough about work….” I heard her giggle while she slumped on the empty seat in front of me. “So…what happened? I got a call from Rowan that you won’t be coming in for three days.”
My face grimaced, mildly surprised that Rowan himself called my friend to inform me. Maybe it’s because their money is tied up with this company. That’s the reason.
“I’m sure you can guess what happened.”
She made an amusing sound. “I thought you were not going to sleep with them. What changed?”
My cheeks tinged pink as I thought back to the night when I begged the Alphas. “It’s not like I had much of choice…my heat came out of nowhere.”
“Oh. Are you okay now? Maybe you should have taken a day off.”
“Now you sound like my Alphas.” The last part slipped out before I could stop, my face flushing when her eyes narrowed. As if she sensed my mood, Isabella chose to ignore that part.
“So what does this mean for your relationship now? Will they start courting you for real?”
I sigh, sharply reminded of the flowers sitting on my bedside table, toes curling. “I don’t know. Can we talk later? I need to catch up on work now.”
She hummed, standing on her feet, pinning me with a look. “This is not over. We are catching up later tonight.”
I watched as my friend turned on her heel and stepped out, shutting the door behind her. My body sagged in the chair, squinting at the folders laid on my table. It’s going to be a long day.
***
By lunchtime, my phone buzzed at least countless times and pinged, but I didn’t bother looking at it. My family never calls while I am at work anyway, and also, they’ll reach Helen if it’s an emergency.
The door to my office was abruptly pushed, and Alpha Reed walked in, fuming.
“Where is your phone?”
“Uhh…” I blinked as he stood in the middle of the room, head spinning. My mouth watered at the sight of him, my stomach tightening upon noticing the first few unbuttoned buttons, the sliver of skin peeking.
“Answer me!”
“Can you stop yelling?! It’s there.” I pointed to the edge of the table with an eye roll before turning to him. “What is the matter with you?”
“What is the matter with me? What is going on with you? We have been trying to reach you all afternoon.”
Heat crawled up my neck, rapidly growing in size and colour as it spread across my cheeks. Shakily I stood on my feet and approached him, chin tilted high. Why were they looking for me?
“I was working.”
He let out an exasperated sigh, “I can see that, but you could have picked up our calls. Do you realise how worried we were?!”
I resisted the urge to scoff at his statement, instead of looking at the wall behind him. There was no way he came over to check on me. I refuse to believe it for my sanity.
“Why worry? It’s not like I am dying.” I made a face, crossing my arms over my chest and rolling my eyes at the intense pheromones rolling off him.
And then I felt it—his body looming over, formidable energy radiating off him as he bracketed me against the wall, his chest pressed solidly against my front. I felt the tingling sensation of lips right on the shell of my ear, and arousal rose like smoke from the bottom of my belly, coiling and curling, filling my chest with deep, choking lust.
My insides turned into liquid, my knees feeling shaky as I tried to hold on, fingers digging into my sides. His breath fell on my face, making me squirm, an audible bob of my throat.
“Do not talk like that,” He began, tone authoritative, toeing the line of a command. “I hate even to imagine something happening to you.” The words sent a jolt straight down my spine, mouth parting. I could not help the small gasp that left my lips. My eyes fluttered shut, and I gulped noisily, emboldened to madness, a bright light dancing behind my eyelids. I fought against the flood of feelings that surged within me then and forced myself to concentrate, determined not to be lured. His arms encircled my waist, steadying me as I wobbled in the almost absent space between our bodies.
“Do you get it?” Reed asked, almost relishing in the harsh intake of breath from my side.
“Yes, Alpha.” I rolled my eyes.
Reed's groan was quiet yet still guttural, the sound reaching straight inside and pulling at my organs. His smile widened, and I shivered as I felt the Alpha drag his nose gently up the back of my neck and into the wisps of my hair.
“Please do not be so cruel as to tease me, omega.” He begged, voice so earnest and broken it made my heart lurch with a different, more dangerous emotion. I looked up into his eyes thoughtfully, and there I found a gaze that was dark, curious and searching.
If not for the heavy tension between us, the confusion in his expression would have made me laugh. For a single moment, Reed was all of eighteen again; wide-eyed, devoid of any responsibilities, hopelessly endeared and oh-so willing to please me. My heart suddenly ached with a biting nostalgia.
He cocked his head to the side, his expression thoughtful. “What are you thinking about?”
“N-Nothing.”
He pressed his nose into my neck then, and the air between us seemed to transform, wrought with a deliciously enchanting tension.
I could feel his breath against my pulse, a steady beat that was clear as day sounding in my ears as I counted them in my head.
I felt him inhale; against my skin. But in a blink, it was forgotten, the vibration of his grunt in the crook of my neck startling me.
“Did you not like the flowers we sent today?” He pulled his face away and stared at me in his arms with bright green eyes. “It’s roses. Your favourite.”
A flush crept up my face as I thought back to them, my hand pressing against his chest to push lightly. He took the hint and took a step back, enough for me to catch on my breath. “Why did you send those? It’s so unnecessary.”
“Excuse me?!” The Alpha asked, inhaling sharply, the tone taking me back.
I turned away and walked to my desk, hoping to not fall in the process. Protect yourself. That’s the only thing I could think of right now. “We don’t need to sell this fake relationship anymore. My parents know you both helped me with the heat, and I stink, so there’s no need for these measures.”
There was silence from his side before I heard the Alpha clear his throat. “Is that why you think we sent the flowers?”
“Yes.”
***